Ditching-machine.



W. J. ABBOTT.

'DITOHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

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DITCHING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

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W. J. ABBOTT.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

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WILLIAM J. ABBOTT, OF ALGIERS, INDIANA.

DITGHING-MACI-IINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Algiers, in the county of Pike and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ditching machines for forming ditches for the reception of drain or other tiles, the object in view being to provide a simple, reliable and efiee tive machine, which will not be burdensome on the draft animals, and which is provided with suitable adj ustment-s, whereby the ditch may be formed to any desired depth.

it-h the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of I parts, as

will be hereinafter more fully described,-

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ditching machine, embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the shiftable slide. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the plow.

The ditching machine contemplated in this invention comprises a front axle 1, a rear axle 2, and carrying wheels 3. While the front carrying wheels are journaled on the ends of the axle 1, the rear carrying wheels are fast on their axle, so that the axle 2 revolves for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The frame of the truck comprises the oppositely arranged and rearwardly diverging reach bars 4:, which are connected at the front by suitable cross bars 5, 6, 7 and 8, while connected to the rear ends of the reach bars 4 are two forwardly converging compression braces 9, the inner ends of which are rigidly connected to the centrally arranged trough of the elevating conveyer, hereinafter particularly described.

Extending centrally and longitudinally of the truck frame is an elevating conveyer, comprising essentially a trough-like receptacle, preferably formed out of sheet iron bent up to comprise a bottom 10, and parallel upstanding sides 11. This trough extends practically for the entire length of the machine, and is reinforced at the rear end Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 3, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

Serial No. 694,847.

thereof by means of journal brackets or plates 12 which extend downward and form bearings in which the rear axle of the machine turns. In this way, the rear end of the trough or conveyer is supported directly on the rear axle, while drag or pull on the rear axle is relieved by the special construction of truck frame, hereinabove described, and embodying the rearwardly diverging reach bars 4 and the rearwardly diverging braces 9.

Mounted fast on the rear axle 2 is a spur gear wheel 13, which meshes wit-h a pinion 14 fast on a short counter shaft 15 extending through the plates or brackets 12. the same counter shaft 15 are the oppositely arranged sprocket wheels 16, around which run the chains 17 of an endless elevator carrier, said carrier comprising any suitable number of flights or blades 18 which will obtain a hold on the material and carry the same rearwardly, where such material is deposited upon a spreader 19, consisting of a plate of sheet metal, bent into an inverted V-shape in cross section and supported by parallel bars 20, extending rearwardly from the rear end of the conveyer frame to which said bars are connected. This spreader receives the earth discharged from the elevating carrier and serves to throw the earth to the sides of the ditch formed by the plow at the advance end of the elevating conveyer. The plow is also formed of sheet metal and is shaped like the trough in cross section, comprising a bottom 21, and upstanding substantially parallel sides 22, while connected to the rear end of the plow is an inverted U-shaped yoke, embodying the top or connecting portion 23 and the downwardly extending arms 24 which are fixedly connected to the sides 22 of the plow, and extended below the bottom of the plow, where they are pivotally connected, at 25, to the advance end of the elevating conveyer. This construction enables the plow to be rocked relatively to the conveyer, so as to change the pitch or angle of inclination of the plow to make it work with the greatest possible ease.

Extending upward from the top of the yoke is a rigidly attached standard 26 which passes through a slot 27 in a guide plate 28 resting upon the cross bars 5 and 6, and held in place by suitable keepers 29 secured to said cross bars.

Connected to the rear end of the slide Fast 011' 28 is a link 30, the rear end of which is connected to a manually operated lever 31, fulcrumed on the cross bar 7 immediately adjacent to the drivers seat 32, which is also mounted on the cross bar 7, as shown. The operator by a movement of the hand lever may slide the guide 28 forward and backward, causing the standard 26 tomove correspondingly, thereby tilting the plow so as to change the pitch, as required. The guide 28 is also formed with an opening 33, through which passes an elevating rope 34 having its lower end connected to the yoke of the plow, while said rope is wrapped around a drum 35 of a Windlass, the shaft 36 of which is provided with an operating crank 37 arranged within convenient reach of the operator on the machine. By means of the Windlass, the advance end of the elevating conveyer may be raised and lowered, and the plow carried thereby will also be correspondingly raised and lowered. It will be observed, however, that the pitch or inclination of the plow may be varied, irrespective of the up and down adjustment of the advance end of the elevating conveyer.

It is preferred to design the driving gears which actuate the elevating conveyer, so as to secure a movement of said conveyer two or more times as fast as the movement of the ditching machine. This will provide for a rapid transmission of the earth rearwardly and prevent any possibility of the elevating conveyer becoming congested. Furthermore, in order to insure the driving of the elevating carrier, the rims of the rear driving wheels will be provided with traction ribs, similar to those employed in agricultural machinery in general.

Vvhat is claimed is:

1. A ditching machine, comprising a truck, an elevating conveyer extendihgcentrally and longitudinally of the truck, a plow having a jointed connectionwith the advance end of the conveyer, means for raising and lowering the advance end of the conveyer and the plow, and means foladjusting the pitch of the plow irrespective of the elevation of the advance end of the conveyer comprising a standard extending upward from the plow, and a manually operated device for shifting said standard forward and backward.

2. A ditching machine comprising a truck, an elevating conveyer extending centrally and longitudinally of the truck, a plow having a jointed connection with the advance end of the conveyer, means for raising and lowering the advance end of the conveyer and the plow, an arched yoke connecting the plow and the conveyer, a standard extending upward from said yoke, and a manually controlled shiftable guide through which said standard passes.

3. A ditching machine comprising a truck, an elevating conveyer extending centrally and longitudinally of the truck, a plow having a jointed connection with the advance end of the conveyer, means for raising and lowering the advance end of the conveyer and the plow, an arched yoke pivotally connected to the conveyer and fixedly connected to the plow, a standard extending upward from said yoke, and a manually controlled shiftable guide through which said standard passes.

WILLIAM J. ABBOTT.

Witnesses EBB E. MoCoRMIoK, Ro-Br. M. GRAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

